"Schizandra and the Gates of Mu" by Laura Bruno. Buy at Amazon

Sedona novel features human evolution, raw cacao and a wild ride to 2012

Set in Sedona in 2001, Schizandra and the Gates of Mu unfolds both on the surface and beneath Sedona, deep within its ancient, towering red rocks.

Book review by Karen Lang

SEDONA, AZ (July 14, 2009) - When I sit down with a book, I want a good return for the time I spend reading it. I want a story that intrigues me and invites me back to hang out with the characters, revisit the action, or ponder questions that arise during my journey through its pages.

Author Laura Bruno, a former Sedona resident, has exceeded my expectations with "Schizandra and the Gates of Mu." This is the first of a series of books featuring the heroine, Schizandra. After reading the first few pages, I put aside my other tasks and spent the next hours reading through to the end. I was not disappointed.

Set in Sedona in 2001, "Schizandra and the Gates of Mu" unfolds both on the surface and beneath Sedona, deep within its ancient, towering red rocks. This modern myth tells a story of challenge, discovery, and change. The heroine enters the Mystery, embarks on a journey that reveals who she is and why she’s here at this time, then returns to fulfill her sacred purpose.

Schizandra Ginger Parker, named for a five-flavored medicinal berry and for the vibrant, artistic mother who died giving birth to her, is an extremely bright 13-year-old. Her father, a brilliant archaeologist and faculty member at Chicago University, gained international recognition for his discovery -- shortly before Schizandra’s birth -- of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the Sedona area. This discovery opened academia to the possibility of a connection between the legendary civilizations of Lemuria and Atlantis. His recent death has forced Schizandra to leave the comfort of the only environment she has ever known (metropolitan Chicago) and move to Sedona, the home of her grandmother, Melissa -- the midwife who delivered her and the person she holds responsible for her mother’s death.

Deep within this seemingly harsh, other-worldly environment, Schizandra will find her strength and her life’s purpose. A pivotal event launches her on the hero’s journey. The sight of a partially dissected female frog in biology class causes her to faint, catapulting her into the mythic Mystery. All attempts to bring her out of the ensuing coma fail. Meanwhile, her arrival in the underworld has been heralded through the ages by the Ancient Ones; she is expected, and she is welcomed. She will play a key role in the evolution of humans and planet Earth to finer dimensions and higher levels of consciousness. As she awakens, we the readers begin to rouse and stir. Our survival, as a species and as a planet, remains at stake. The galactic clock is ticking down to zero.

The individual elements of the plot are complex, yet Bruno skillfully blends them into an exhilarating and wild ride through ages and dimensions and a vast network of inner and outer landscapes. She leads us down darkened underground passages, through lush multi-level inner gardens reminiscent of the fabled hanging gardens of Babylon. Huge talking crystals direct lost travelers through the labyrinth, facilitating communication much as they do in present day applications. The characters -- animal, mineral, archetypal, other-world, classmates, family and fabled amphibian royalty -- are at once unique and familiar. Bruno casts out her tale like a cosmic fishing net, capturing readers in lines woven with the deep energetic power of the human heart to love unconditionally and to heal with profound compassion.

READER ALERT: Prepare for takeoff before opening this book. Intense speed, sharp turns, inter-dimensional turbulence and significant sensory shifts and bumps may be experienced. Keep your seatbelt fastened and enjoy the flight.

About the author and reviewer

Laura Bruno has authored two other books: "If I Only Had a Brain Injury" (www.ifionlyhadabraininjury.com) and "The Lazy Raw Foodist’s Guide" (www.lazyrawfoodist.com). She offers intuitive coaching at www.internationalrenaissancecoaching.com.

Karen Lang, a writer and Reiki Master Teacher, lives in the Lake Tahoe area. She offers Reiki classes and classes in healing work with crystals. Karen can be reached at lemurianstargate@gmail.com, or visit her website at http://lemurianstargate.com.